"Harpooned - Japanese Cetacean Research Simulator" is a bitter comment on the Japanese practice to kill hundreds of whales every year for "scientific" reasons. The game is quite cynical and bloody and while it's fun to play on the one hand, you might start thinking about whaling on the other hand.

You play the role of a Japanese whaling boat and it's your task to kill as many whales as possible (of course for scientific reasons). But be careful to avoid collisions with icebergs as well as with protestor boats.

The game shows a great sense of humour. It isn't too moralistic and just tells you that whaling is bad, but "hides" its message in cynical comments like "Super Scientific" when you kill one of the rare white whales or giving you the result of your research in cat food and whale burgers.

In that way "Harpooned" will reach many people that normally are immune to any political or ecological statements. And it sure feels strange to ship through the empty seas at the end of the game, leaving a trace of blood behind you...

Game is quite short, but I see this as part of the concept. I think the developer wanted everybody to see the end of the game to get the message.

Let's save the whales and play "Harpooned"!

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